U.S. Air and Space Museum launches 40th anniversary bash

Ex-Education Secretary Duncan named to Lucas Museum board
CHICAGO (AP) — Former U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has been named to the board of directors for the museum that “Star Wars” director George Lucas hopes to build along Chicago’s lakefront.

NYC Opera announces 1st full season after bankruptcy

NEW YORK (AP) — The revived New York City Opera announced its first full season following its emergence from bankruptcy, planning 28 performances of six works in 2016-17 that include the U.S. debut of Antonio de Literes’ “Los Elementos” and area premieres of Peter Eotvos’ “Angels in America” and Tobin Stokes’ “Fallujah.”

Artist recreates all of Star Wars: Episode IV in 123-meter long illustration

A Swiss graphic designer has taken all of the events that occurred in Star Wars: A New Hope and recreated it in a 123-meter long illustration. Inspired by a series of infographics he had seen, Martin Panchaud created the image using Adobe Illustrator. On his website, Panchaud said one of the reasons he wanted to create such an elaborate image was because of how tired he grew of the internet’s inability to pay attention to something.

Miley Cyrus, Marc Jacobs and Artist Marilyn Minter Join Forces to Raise Money for Planned Parenthood
Minter opened up about women’s rights and Donald Trump at Sunday’s launch of her MileyxMarilyn project at Bookmarc in West Hollywood.

Steven Tyler, Jeff Koons Celebrate Tony Bennett at Power of Love Gala
The jazz legend was the guest of honor at Keep Memory Alive’s 20th annual charity gala in Las Vegas.

Rome opera house taps Hollywood glitz for new ‘Traviata’

By Isla Binnie ROME (Reuters) – Rome’s opera house has called on the star power of Hollywood and high fashion for a new production that is already racking up record ticket sales for an institution that until two years ago was grappling with debt and labor disputes. Stars of stage and screen, including reality TV celebrity Kim Kardashian and her rapper husband Kanye West, converged on Rome on Sunday for a gala dress rehearsal of Giuseppe Verdi’s “La Traviata”, which tells the tragic story of a self-sacrificing courtesan in 19th-century Paris. Veteran designer Valentino Garavani produced this version of “La Traviata”, which opens on May 24 and runs till June 30, through his foundation.

‘ET Comes Home’ for NASA fuel tank in street ride to LA museum

A giant orange NASA fuel tank began its final journey on Saturday, along city streets to a Los Angeles science center where it will be displayed with the space shuttle Endeavour. The California Science Center has called the mission “ET Comes Home,” in a play on the “external tank” name and the 1982 movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” The transport is a sequel of sorts to the 2012 mission to tow Endeavour from the Los Angeles airport to the science center, a project that captivated crowds of onlookers.

Coppola revels in homecoming and ‘scary’ challenge of first opera

Sofia Coppola says she is loving the “scary” challenge of directing an opera for the first time as she prepares for the premiere of her production of “La Traviata” in Rome next week. The American film director has teamed up with Nathan Crowley, the British production designer behind the Batman trilogy, for a new production of the classic Italian opera with the costumes designed by fashion’s king of glamour, the veteran designer Valentino. “I’ve really enjoyed my first experience in the theatre,” Coppola, 45, told a press conference on Friday ahead of Tuesday’s opening of the latest interpretation of Giuseppe Verdi’s romantic tragedy at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.

Sofia Coppola tries her hand at opera in Rome

ROME (AP) — Oscar-winning film director Sofia Coppola is taking a break from movies to direct a new production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” at the Rome Opera House.

Vesta Coffee Roasters to Perk Up the Arts District

Aiming for a summer debut, Vesta Coffee Roasters intend to expand their online retail coffee business into a fully-fledged “roastery” and coffee shop. A rendering on the brand’s Twitter feed hints the space will feature booths, an industrial-chic design and a coffee bar with stools for guests to sit right up close to the pouring action.

James Corden Steps Into ‘Dancing With the Stars’ as Arrogant Choreographer in ‘Late Late Show’ Bit
“I am a lot of things, but I am not quick and I am not fun, not when it comes to dance, or sex for that matter.”

Genoa maritime museum seeks possession of Columbus letter

MILAN (AP) — A state maritime museum in Christopher Columbus’ birthplace of Genoa has asked Italy’s culture minister to let it become the custodian of the recently recovered 1493 letter in which the explorer described his discoveries.

James Corden Proves He’s the Fiercest Choreographer Dancing with the Stars Will Ever Know

James Corden: actor, late-night host, diva. The Late Late Show host was thrilled to be asked to choreograph Dancing with the Stars. But even when he learned he’d only be choreographing a 20-second bumper, Corden refused to let pride get in the way of his big moment. Decked out in a sequin, feathered … Read More > Other Links From TVGuide.com James Corden The Late Late Show With James Corden Dancing with the Stars This article, James Corden Proves He’s the Fiercest Choreographer Dancing with the Stars Will Ever Know, originally appeared on TVGuide.com.

German history museum explores 6 decades of immigration

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s main national history museum is exploring six decades of migration to the country — a story of often-ambivalent but evolving attitudes that goes from the arrival of the first southern European “guest workers” to today’s migrant influx from the Arab world and elsewhere.

A Former Pro Player Turned Twitter Artist Created These Incredible Basketball Caricatures

Fashion forward hammer dunking maniac commission… pic.twitter.com/omkfipKINy

Museum celebrates Star Trek at 50 with artifacts, tribbles

SEATTLE (AP) — It’s been 50 years since the Starship Enterprise began its five-year mission to boldly go where no man had gone before. Seattle’s EMP Museum is marking the anniversary with an exhibition honoring “Star Trek” and its influence on pop culture and society.

Russian performance artist convicted in pro-Ukraine protest
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian performance artist known for his radical politically charged performances was convicted Thursday of vandalism for a pro-Ukraine protest and sentenced to 16 months in prison.